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@uitrit gis-trs atrnt @frn Letters Patent No. 82,221, dated September 15, 1868.

IMPROVED STEP-LADDER JOINT.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: y

Be it known that I, SHUBAEL E. HEWEs, of the city and 4countyof Albany, and State of New York, have 'invented a new and useful Improvement in Joints to Extension and Step-Ladders; and I hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making apart of this specification.

The object of my improvement is to furnish, for extension and stcp-ladders, an economical, convenient,

strong, and safe joint, by means of which auladclerV can be made up of two or more sections, to be put together easily, and, when together, to he as strong as though the sides were single and entire through their entire length, and at the same time easily detachableinto several parts for purpose of conveniently storing away.

. In the accompanying drawing- Figure l represents so much of two sections of a. ladder as is necessary toinclude the improved joint, which is representedfin that ligure.

In ig. 1, D D D D represent the Stiles or side pieces of one part of the ladder, representing at B B the male part of the joint, and representing at C C a short slot cut in the end of the side pieces fitting upon the round, s. E E represent the sides of the other/part of the ladder, in which the female part of my improved joint is seen at a a. The button, B B, fitting upon the ends of the round, 3, is made to enter and it closely in the'socket a a, asithat portion of the ladder containing the male portion of the joint, turnng'upon the round, s, as its fulcrum, swings to its place in extending the ladder for use. A`

The slot a a is 'cut upon the periphery of a circle having the distance of C B for radius, so that the button B swings naturally into its place in the slot a, when the foot, c, is in place upon the round, s.

The side of the ladder in which the slot a is cut is strengthened by a plate, of iron, brass, or other strong metal, screwed upon it, and aiding in forming the matrix, into which the button B is fitted.

In making this joint in perfection, care must be taken, in adjusting the button B to th'e end of the round, 3, that itsl length and position be such as to press or hold firmly together the two parts of the ladder united by the joint.

To keep the ladder in place when extended, I attach a small button upon the sides D D, which I turn across the sides E E, when the ladder is extended. These buttons may be located upon sides at or`near 4 4, .as see 'in fig. 1.

The parts of the ladder, when arranged as a step-ladder, are seen as in g. 2.

Having thus fully described the nature and character of my said improvement, I will proceed todescribe the same with respect to my claim.

I claim the joint composed ofthe foot C C, the round, s, the button B B, and the matrix a a, substantially in the manner and for the purpose above described.

k S. E. HEWES. Witnesses JOEL TIFFANY,4 BENJAMIN Nora". 

